ALWAYS REFORMING: A sinner saved by grace alone through faith alone because of Christ alone adhering to Scripture alone to bring about reform personally, for his family, church, and world to the glory of God alone.

Monday, October 23, 2006

A flute without holes is not a flute.

The following is an article I wrote that will be coming out this week in the Wylie News and Murphy Monitor.

Would you like to rub my head?

My boy is three and keeps his hair very short. When he sits in the barber chair he knows to say, “Zero on the sides and One on the top.” We might call that a “buzz” cut and people often like to rub his head. It’s strange, I know, but he doesn’t like just anyone to rub his head.

We got hair cuts and then went to the store. He was wearing his Batman costume, including body suit, gloves, boots, and cape, but no hooded mask. He’s a good looking boy, so he’s used to positive comments, but this one lady went on about how great he looked in his Batman costume.

He must have felt particularly touched by her, because he took a step toward her, lowered his head, and asked, “Would you like to rub my head?” She seemed a bit perplexed, but happily obliged, noting, “Very nice.”

I said all that to say this, his demonstration of affection seemed a bit out of the ordinary to the recipient thereof.

Sometimes our displays of affection toward God look a bit odd at times. The essence of being a Christian is being loved by God and loving Him, which spills over into a love for others (cf. Matthew 22:37-40). Christians know they should show love, but what does that look like?

How does Jesus want us to show Him love? It’s not through cards or flowers or the rubbing of the head, but through obedience. Jesus said, “Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me” (John 14:21, ESV).

If someone wondered if you loved God, how would they know? If God wondered if you loved Him, how would He know? Our love for God is, or at least should be, demonstrated by doing what He wants (i.e., keeping His commands). The way we know what He commands is through reading the Bible. It tells us what God is like, what God likes & doesn’t like, and what He likes for His people to do & not do.

It is inconsistent and hypocritical to claim to love God, but then live a life that says otherwise. Which do you think people will believe?

To claim to love Christ without obedience, betrays a lack of love. Just as a flute without holes is not a flute, so love without obedience is not love.

6 Comments:

Nice post, Gunny, especially in light of the fact that so much of contemporary church life tries to negate this biblical truth. I know many pastors who have preached this truth and have found themselves facing great difficulty as a result. Nonetheless, we must stand and contend for God's Word, much like the Apostle Paul did when he wrote to the Corinthians and others.

There's a theology rampant out there that presents the Christian life with no demands or obligations or expectations ... a bogus "fire insurance" that will not get the job done in any way.

We're doing a Sunday night series on T.U.L.I.P. at Providence Church and I'm going to be doing the "P" and I intend to distinguish Perseverance of the Saints from a "cheap grace" version of eternal security.